A DVD advising children on how to stay safe while using social networking websites has been launched.

Funded by Kent Police and Kent County Council, the E-safe DVD will be distributed alongside supporting teaching material to schools throughout the county.

It was the idea of the Kent and Medway Young People’s Safety Forum, which sees a panel of children regularly meeting to discuss safety issues.

Kent police’s assistant chief constable Allyn Thomas said: “Offering advice and guidance to children on how to stay safe online is sometimes met with resistance and maybe seen as adults telling them what to do.

“E-safe has been produced by children for children with the hope it will break this barrier and help to deliver the messages on how to stay safe on the internet.”

The DVD was launched at a conference on safety while using the internet, held at Kent Police College in Maidstone last Tuesday.